The Grenada gazette., 1887-10-08
NETTIE'S LOVERS.
A Woman's Wise Choice Be-
tween a Man and a Villain.

Something allied Nettie Wilder. Hel
mother, who gave to this only child all
her maternal love, knew something Of
the cause of change, and her thinking
hours were often as perplexed and
troubled as Nettie's.
For there was Frank Mitchell, on the
one hand. the son Of the richest man
In Coverdale; college educated, hand
somely attired, smooth of tongue and
courteous in manner. And there was
Harry Lane. on the other hand, stall
wart, young farmer of twenty-five,
who owned well-conducted farm, was
rs honest and true man as the wide
world could produce, and fully his own
master And both were courting pret-
ty Nettie Wilder.
And poor little Nettie was growing
grave and womanly, thinking of the
choice she should make. For, if Harry
had been her boy-loyer all her life,
Frank possessed the charm of novelty,
and would take her from the drudgery
Of farm life.
Yet, there was something about
Frank Mitchell that Nettie distrusted.
She could not define it, and none of the
whispers that "Mitchell's son was q
little Wild had ever reached her; yet
she was conscious ola certain shrink
ing from his most tender speeches.
She was pondering over all this one
pleasant October afternoon; and as
shadow crossed the window, she looked
up to see Harry Lane carrying large
covered basket.
I'VE are gathering the pippins," he
said, coming to the window sill, "snd
! brought over basket for your
mother
Mrs. Wilder, from the inner part Of
the room, advanced to speak some
words of thanks, adding:
Don't you want to take some to
your grandfather, Nettie? Harry can
60 to the crossroads with you"
Half reluctantly Nettie put on her
hat and sack, and selected some of the
finer pippins for smaller basket.
With nod and smile Ncttie left
Harry at the crossroads, (where he
promised to meet her at five o'clock,
to cross the lot, that saved nearly half
mile Of the distance to her grand
fathers. On entering the kitchen. she
frightened Katie, the old servant, by
the ashy pallor of her face, and the
strange tremor Of her voice, as she
said, sharply:
"Where is grandfather"
''He's not come in from town yet"
was the reply. "Whatever's come to
you, Miss NettieP Are you going to
faint?n
"No. am tired Imust watch for
grandfather, Or he may drive past"
Then she ran across the garden to
the gate, for there was sound Of
wheels on the road. Her grandfather
checked his horse as she opened the
gate, to say to her:
Jump in. I'm going over to Mitch
eli s."
You must come in first, she said.
II must speak to you, grandfather. 1t
Is important"
Her pale, agitated face and her
sarnestness half frightened the old
man, and he tied the horse and fol-
lowed her into the house.
"What is it, dear?" he asked. "Be
Is quick as you can, for want to get
home before dark, and it's a good
stretch TO Mtchell's."
"Grandfather, have you money for
hims"
"Ycs; all the quarterly rents. Folks
all paid up to-day"
"Iou must not take ii over. grand
father. There are three men over in
Higgins old barn waiting to rob you"
"Nonsense!'
"lt Is not nonsense, grandfather. |
came across lots with Harry, but when |
passed Higgins place l saw some of
those great yellow pears hanging over
the barn, and went to get them. When
! was up in the tree / saw and heard |
The men. They are in the barn, and
they know you have been collecting the
rents They mean to stop you and lake
the money. And, oh, grandfather, II
sou don't 60 on they will come over
here TO rob you. So you must let me
do what / have planned. Let me take
the money on, and you stay here. II